Extensible end table arrangement for dispensing cabinets



March 5, 1957 o, A. GIPPLE 2,784,046

EXTENSIBLE END TABLE ARRANGEMENT FOR DISPENSING CABINETS xu BYQWMM March 5, 1957 Q A GIPPLE 2,784,046

EXTENSIBLE END TABLE ARRANGEMENT FOR DISPENSING CABINETS Original Filed July 23, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 2a za INVENTOR. @mira/1' BY p wml A TTOR/VVS.

Mardi 5, 1957 o. A. GIPPLE EXTENSIBLE END TABLE ARRANGEMENT FOR DISPENSING CABINETS Original Filed July 23, 1951 5 sheets-sheet s b a INTOR. BY U Z l March 5 1957 o. A. GIPPLE EXTENSIBLE END TABLE ARRANGEMENT FOR DISPENSING CABINETS Original Filed July 23. 195] 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 5, 1957 o. A. GIPPLE 2,784,046

EXTENSIBLE END TABLE ARRANGEMENT FOR DISPENSING CABINETS Original Filed July 23, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR,

A TTORNE YS.

EXTENSIBLE END TABLE ARRANGEMENT FOR DISPENSING CABINETS Oliver A. Gipple, Buffalo, N. Y.

Original application July 23, 1951, Serial No. 238,083,

now PatentNo. 2,687,933, dated August 31, 1954.

Divided and this application June 4, 1954, Serial No. 436,436

z` claims. (c1. S12- 319) This invention relates to a dispensing cabinet for storing and displaying various refreshments, beverages, supplies and equipment for cocktail parties andthe like and more particularly to such a dispensing cabinet having extensible end table sections.

This application is adivision of my copending application, Serial No. 238,083, tiled July 23, 1951, for Extensible End Table Arrangement for Dispensing Cabinets now Patent No. 2,687,933, dated August 31, 1954.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a dispensing cabinet having extensible end table sections which can be easily and quickly contracted so as to occupy a minimum amount of space when not in use and are capable of being readily extended so as to provide an extended serving table.

Another object is to provide a dispensing cabinet which is attractive and neat appearing in either its contracted or expanded condition.

Other objects andV advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed'description and accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a dispensing cabinet embodying this invention with parts broken away to show the internal construction of the cabinet.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same with parts broken away to show the adjacent mechanism within the cabinet.

Fig. 3 is a similar View of theupper part of the dispensing cabinet but showing theA mechanism in a position in which the table is expanded to increase its supporting area.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 4 4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the central liftable section of the table and parts of the mechanism for moving the same vertically.

Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary perspective views of parts of the mechanism for expanding and contracting the table sections.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation of the compensating means whereby a yielding connection is provided between the mechanism whichV expands' and contracts the table and the power operated mechanism which actuates the same.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section ofthe compensating means shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. l0 isa horizontal section taken on line 10-10, Fig. l-.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective View of the compensating means whereby a yielding connection is obtained between the mechanism which operates the sliding door sections ofthe beverageand supply storage cornpartment and the power operated mechanism which actuates the same.

Figs. 12 and 13 are fragmentary perspective views of parts' ofthe exible door or closurefor said storage compartment and the means `for guiding and actuating the same.

2,784,046 Patented Mar. 5, 1957 Fig. 14 is a vertical cross section, on an enlarged scale,

trance and adapted to store various beverages', refreshspace within the outer enclosure of the housing is dividedv by a horizontal partition 26 arranged between the floor 24 and the table 22 so as to form the top of the refreshment chamber 20 and part of the bottom of the equipment chamber andthis partition is connected with the 'oor 24 by two upright side partitions 27 which are spaced from the housing side walls 25 so as to form tworlowerr side pockets 28 in which part of the operating mechanism of the cabinet is arranged, and this horizontal partition 26 is also connected at its inner or rear end with the floor 24 by van upright transverse partition 29 which 4is spaced from the rear side of the cabinet'housing so as to form the inner or back wall ofthe storage chamber 20 and also a pocket 30 in the rear part of the cabinet for receiving other parts of the voperating mechanism.

The front side of the refreshment storage chamber `20 is opened and closed by a slidable folding door 31. The upper part of the front side ofthe cabinet is closed by a front transverse wall 32 and the space within the upper partof the housing contains transverse front and rear partitions 33, 34 and't`wo longitudinal sideA partitions 35, 35 which formfront and rear pockets 36, 37 and two side pockets 38 within the upper part of the cabinet housing for the reception of some of the operating mechanism.

The door 31 of the refreshment storage chamber 20 preferably comprises two horizontally slidable folding sections which are adapted to meet at the center of the front side of this chamber when the same are in a closed position and to separate and move respectively into" the pockets 28 of the cabinet when in anopen position.Y

Each of the door sections of the refreshment storage chamber comprises a plurality ofupright slats 39 arranged edge to edge ina horizontal row and connected with each other by flexible bands 40 yso as to permit the same to fold horizontally relative to each other and move in unison either in a straight line into and out of the respective side pocket 28 and into and out of a position across the front side of the chamber l20 and also turn the corner between the front sidehofu this; chamber20 and the respective pocket 28. Duringfthis movementV of the slats 39 of each of these door sections the lower ends of these slats engage with an outwardly facing guide'way 41 formed on the longitudinal side edges andthe transverse front edge of the iloor 24 of the vrefreshment storage chamber, as shown in Figs. l,v 2 and l0, and these slats are supportedand guided at their upper endsy by means of a plurality` of hangers each Aofwhichlias a` lower attaching plate 42Y secured jbyvla rivet 43 to they inner side"ot"`theV4 respective Vslatand an upper hook 44 which slides on an upper horizontal track 45 extending transversely across the front side of the chamber and lengthwise of the upper part of the respective pocket 28 and supported on the adjacent parts of the cabinet by brackets 46. Turning of these hangers about the rivets 43 'is prevented by providing the upper edge of each attaching plate 42 on opposite sides of its hook 44 with retaining lips 47 which engage with the upper edge of the respective Slat, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13.

i Power operated means are provided for opening and closing the two folding sections of the refreshment chamber door which means are shown in Figs. l, 2, l0, ll and 12, and constructed as follows:

' The numeral 48 represents an electrically operated motor which is mounted on the bottom 24 of the pocket and supplied with electric current in any suitable manner and also controlled by switch means which may be varied. Motion is transmitted from the driving shaft 49 of this motor to each of the folding door sections of the refreshment storage chamber so that the same are opened and closed simultaneously and for this purpose each of these door sections is operatively connected with ,the driving shaft of the motor as follows:

The numeral 50 represents an upright rock lever arranged in each of the pockets 28 and connected at its upper end by means of a link 51 with the upper part of the rearmost slat 39 of the respective door section while its lower end is pivoted by means of a fulcrum pin or rivet 52 with a relatively stationary part so that upon swinging this lever forwardly and backwardly the respective folding door section will be moved into a closed and opened position. This rocking movement is irnparted to this lever by a horizontal door operating crank shaft 53 arranged transversely in the pocket 39 above the motor 4S and provided at its opposite ends with cranks or crank arms 54 each of which is connected by a 'link 55 with one of the rock levers S0 between the ends of the latter, as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 10. The crank shaft 53 is rotated by motion derived from the motor 4S through the medium of an intermediate transmitting gearing comprising an intermediate crank shaft 56 arranged in the pocket 30 and journaled in suitable bearings on an adjacent stationary bracket 57 of the cabinet, intermeshing miter gear wheels 58, 59 connected respectively with the intermediate shaft 56 and the door operating shaft 53, a worm shaft 60 journaled on the bracketr57 and having a worm 61 which meshes with a worm wheel 62 on the intermediate crank shaft 56, and a belt 63 passing around pulleys 64, 65 mounted respectively on the motor shaft 49 and the worm shaft 60. The throw of the cranks 54 and the parts associated therewith is so determined that during one-half of the rotation of these cranks on one side of the axis of the shaft S3 the rock levers will be actuated to close the sectionsrof the door 31 and upon rotating these cranks one-,half turn on the opposite side of this axis these levers will be turned in the opposite direction and open these doors. This result is obtained by turning the motor con tinuously in the same direction and providing means which are operated either manually or automatically for arresting the motor when the cranks 54 project horizontally forward, as shown in Fig. l and the doors 31 are closed and also stopping the motor when these arms project horizontally rearward from the crank shaft 53 and these doors are opened.

Inporder to avoid the necessity of extremely accurate workmanship in the mechanism for closing and opening the sections of the door 31 and still permit of tightly closing the same yielding compensating means are provided Whereby the means for transmitting motion from the motor 48 to the door sections 31 will always overthrow or exert a tendency to move these door sections vafter the same have reached their closed position, and thus hold them firmly closed without liability of breaking any of the operating parts.. This is preferably acf complished by supporting the pivot pins S2 of the rock levers on compensating bars 66 which are capable of floating and are yieldingly Vheld in position so as to be capable of shifting in response to pressure on these levers after the door sections 31 have been fully closed. For this purpose each of these compensating bars is guided at its front and rear ends in guideways 67, 68 on the adjacent stationary parts of the cabinet, and each of these compensating bars is drawn rearwardly against an adjacent stop 69 by means of a spring ,70 which connects lugs 71, 72 formed, respectively, on the compensating bar and its rear guideway 68, as best shown in Figs. l. l() and 1l. This stop 69 limits the rearward movement of this compensating bar and preferably consists of a screw which works in a threaded opening on the bracket 73 which carries the rear guideway l68, thereby permitting of adjusting the open position of the respective section of the door 31. The tension of the springs 70 is such that during nearly the entire closing movement of the door sections 31 the compensating bars 66 will be held stationary in their rearmost position against the stops 69, as shown in Figs. 1, l0 and ll, but after these door sections engage each other at their front ends and the rock levers are still pressed forward for a brief time by the actuating means which connect the same with the motor shaft the compensating bars 66 are permitted to move forwardly due to the yielding of the springs 70, during which time the lower pivot pins 52 of the rock levers move forward while the fulcrum of these levers is temporarily transferred to the pins 74 which pivotally connect the upper ends of the rock levers with the links 51. During the initial part of the subsequent opening movement of the doors 31 the rock levers first turn on the link pins 74 as fulcrums until the compensating bars 66 have moved backwardly into engagement with the stops 69 after which these levers turn on the pivot pins 52 as fulcrums. It will be noted that by these means a tight closure of the doors 31 may be obtained without accurate workmanship in the mechanism which operates these doors. After the stop screws 69 have been adjusted to the desired position the same are held rigidly in place on the brackets 73 by means of jamb nuts 75, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

The serving table 22 which forms the top of the cabinet comprises front and rear fixed sections 76, 77 which are mounted lengthwise in any suitable manner on the upper ends of the upright fixed walls of the cabinet so that these sections are spaced fore and aft from each other and two extensible end sections or panels 78, 78 which are slidably mounted between the opposing respective ends of the longitudinal table sections so that these end sections may be slid inwardly for engaging their opposing inner ends and thus produce a continuous contracted table top with the longitudinal table sections and which closes the upper end of the equipment chamber 21 or these end table sections may be moved apart so as to uncover the upper end of the equipment chamber.

Various means may be employed for thus movably supporting the end table sections on the longitudinal table sections but those shown in Figs. l, 14, l5 and l6 of the drawings are preferred and constructed as follows:

In the space between each of the corresponding ends of the longitudinal table sections 76, 77 is arranged a carriage on which one of the end table sections 78 is detachably mounted. This carriage comprises inner, outer and intermediate transverse bars 79, 80, 81 and two spaced longitudinal bars 82 which may be constructed of metal and connected by spot welding or in any other appropriate manner. This carriage is guided for lengthwise movement on the longitudinal table sections by engaging the opposite ends of the innerV and intermediate cross bars 79, with longitudinal guideways 83 formed on guide rails or tracks 84 which are secured to the underside of the table sections 76, 77 by means of screws 85.

Eachofthe endtable, sections isv equal inwidth to` the space` between the opposing longitudinal edges off the front and rear table sections and detachably mounted on its respective carriage so as to be movable therewith inwardly and outwardly relative to the body of the cabinet and remains flush with the other table Sections. The means'for detachably connecting each endV table section with its carriage includes coupling Ylugs 86 arranged on the` outer ends of the longitudinal carriage bars 82 and engaging with recesses 87 on the underside of the outer end of the respective end table section, coupling lugs 88 arranged at the opposite ends of the outer cross bar 81 of the carriage and engaging with shoulders 89 formed on the underside of this table section, and` coupling clips 90 secured to the underside of the inner part of this table; sectionand engaging underneath the inner cross bar 79 of the carriage.

By this means the end table sections are movably supported so that they can be slid inwardly for contracting the length of the table and forming a closed top, for the cabinet when the same is not in use for serving refreshments and also slid outwardly for expanding the surface of the table and uncovering the chamber or well 21 in the top of the cabinet and rendering the equipment therein accessible, and the end table sections can also be readily removed for cleaning and inspecting the same and the parts associated therewith.

Outward movement of each end table carriage is limited by stops 91 secured to the underside of the longitudinal table sections adjacent to the outer ends thereof and adapted to be engaged by the opposite ends of the intermediate cross bar 80 of the respective carriage in the outermost position of the latter.

Power operated means are provided for opening and closing the movable end sections of the table which means are preferably actuated'by the same motor which actuates the front door of the refreshment chamber so that the top of the equipment chamber and the front of the refreshment chamber are opened and closed simultaneously. In their preferred form the means for actuating the end table sections are constructed as follows:

The numeral 92 represents a gear rack secured lengthwise to the underside of each of the end tables supporting carriages and a gear wheel 93 meshing with this rack. Across the outer upper parts of the equipment chamber are two horizontal gear shafts 94 each of which is journaled in bearings on adjacent stationary parts of the cabinet and has secured thereto one of the gear wheels 93'so that these members turn together. At its rear end each of the gear shafts 94 is provided with a gear pinion 9S -which meshes with the teeth of a gear segment 96 pivoted on the adjacent part of a stationary longitudinal supporting bar 97 mounted on the upper part of the cabinet housing, as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3. The two gear segments 96 are caused to rock in unison in opposite directions by motion derived from a vertically movable slide 98 which is guided in a guidewayV 105 arranged on a stationary part between these segments and operatively connected with a rock arm 99`projecting downwardly from each segment by means of a guide arm 100 pivoted at its upper end on the supporting bar 97, a parallel link 101 connecting the lower end of the guide arm 100 with the lowerV end of the segment arm 99 and a shifting link 102 `connecting the lower end of the guide link 100 and the inner end of the parallel link 101 with one side of the slide 98. Upon raising the slide 98 to its highest position, as shown in Fig. 2, the gear segments 96 will be turned so that both of the end table sections 78 are simultaneously moved inwardly into their closed position and upon moving this slide downwardly to its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 3, these gear segments will be turned simultaneously in the opposite direction, thereby moving both of these end table sections 78 into their outermost open position.

The slide 98 is reciprocated for this purpose by motion with the crank 103 and the slide 98. When the'crank 103 is in a full upright position, as shown in Fig.v 2,: both end table sections are closed and when thiscrank'. projects fully downwardly these table sections are closed so that during each complete rotation of the crankshaft S6 these table endy sections are opened and closedA and therefore may be retained in either of these positions' by stopping the operation of the motor when the crank 103' is either straight up or straight down.

v In order to insure tight engagement of the inner ends` of the table end sections 78 and a full closure at the'top:

of the equipment chamber 21 the means for actuating these table sections are so constructed that the sametenda to move these table end sections more than is necessary Y to close the same and means are therefore provided to compensate for this over throw or excess of the actuat-4 ing means in order to avoid breaking any of the partsv of this mechanism. This is preferably accomplished byconstructing the connecting rod or bar 104 in sections and yieldingly connecting these sections.

ln the preferred construction the connecting rod 104s comprises an upper section 106 which is pivotally con-1 nected with the slide 98, a lower section 107 which is.E pivoted to the crank 103, and an intermediate section 1081 which is yieldingly connected with the upper rod section 106 and adjustably connected with the lower rod section- 107. The adjustable connection between the lower rod: section and the intermediate rod section preferably con-- sists of adjusting screws 109 secured to the intermediate rod section 108 and passing through longitudinal slots 110v in the lower rod section 107, and the yielding connection4 between the intermediate rod section 108 and the upper rod section 106 preferably comprises guide pins or screws 111 secured to the upper rod section 106 and sliding-j the spring 113 is limited by stop means which preferablyconsist of the screws 111 engaging with the upper ends of the slots 112, as shown in Fig. 9.

The contracting movement of the several sections of the connecting rod under the pull of the-spring 1'13 is limitedby engagement of the guide pins 111 with the upper ends of the slots 112 which form stops for this purpose.

During nearly the entire throw of the crank 103 into its. full upward position the several sections of the connecting rod 104 move together as a unit until the table end sections' have been moved inwardly and are arrested by engage,-v ment of their inner ends and thereafter the continued lifting effect of the crank 103 in completing its upward throw only moves the lower and intermediate sections 107, 108V of the connecting rod 104 independently of its upper section 106, whereby the spring 113 will be stretched slightly and stop pins 111 .will be moved slightly awayfrom the upper stop ends of the slots 112, therebyavoiding breaking any of the operating mechanism. During the subsef` quent downward throw of the crank 103 the lower-.and intermediate connecting rod sections will move independently of the upper section 106 thereof until the guide pins 111 have again engaged the upper ends of the slots 112 after which the several connecting rods will again move in unison and operate to open both end sections of the table.

Means are provided whereby beverage serving equipment such as glasses and other articles may be lowered and stored in the equipment or utility chamber 21 when 7 the dispensing ,cabinet-is not in useA and also elevated flush withthe top of the table when it is desired to serve refreshrnents.v In their preferred form these elevating means, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5 are constructed as follows:

The numeral 114 represents a horizontal elevating platform or tray which is adapted to support various kinds of beverage or refreshment serving equipment and is movable vertically in the equipment chamber between the bottom and top thereof so that any equipment, such as glasses, may be stored in the lower part of this chamber when the cabinet is not in use, and this equipment may be raised flush with the table where the same is accessible for use. This tray is preferably of rectangular form so as to substantially lit the shape of the equipment chamber when lowered and also lit the space between the opposing inner edges of the end sections 78 of the table when the latter are separated or extended. rThe means for guiding this tray-during its vertical movement preferably comprise an upright lifting post 115 which has the form of a plate which is guided for vertical movement in a guideway 115 arranged in the pocket 30 of the cabinet and mounted on the rear wall 29 of the refreshmentV chamber 20 and provided at its upper end with means for supporting this tray. Raising and lowering of the lifting post and the tray carried thereon is effected by a rotatable crank 117 connected with the front end of the intermediate crank shaft 56 and a connecting rod or bar 113 pivotally connected at its lower and upper ends, respectively, with the crank 117 and the lifting post 115.

The upward movement of the tray is preferably arrested when the upper side thereof is flush with the upper side of the table and for this purpose the tray is provided on the underside of its opposite transverse edges with stops 119 having the form of lingers which are adapted to engage with the underside of the inner edge portions of the table end sections when the latter fully spread and the tray is in its highest position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Por the purpose of insuring raising the tray always to a position flush with the table without requiring accuracy in workmanship of the lifting mechanism means are prosupported on these lifting arms by a plurality of springs 121 interposed between these arms and the tray and thus provides a cushion between these members which tends constantly to move the tray upwardly from these arms. This raising effect of these springs is limited preferably by stop means consisting of screws 122 passing through these springs and secured at their upper ends to the tray while their heads bear against the underside of the tray 114. Inst before the lifting post completes its upward movement the stop lingers 119 engage the underside of the table end sections 7S and thereby arrest the tray flush with the table and as this lifting post effects the final part of its upward movement independently of the tray, the springs 121- are compressed a corresponding extent. During the initial part of the subsequent downward movement of the lifting post the tray remains at rest until the springs 121 Cil have expanded siliiiciently to take 'up the slack-permitted by the stopl screws 122 and after this slack has been taken`-I up the tray descends in unison'lwith the post into the lowermos't position of the lifting mechanism,

'The operating mechanism of this'dispensing cabinet is so timed that during one-half of each complete cycle of operations the front door of the refreshment chamber is opened in unison with separation of the tableV end sectionsinto an open position and elevation of the tray so that it is level with the table thereby rendering all the storage` facilities of the cabinet accessible for use and placing the` table in readiness for serving refreshments to guests, it being understood that the operating mechanism is arrested either manually or automatically'when the several parts are in the required position. i

When the repast is finished the second half of the complete cycle of the operating mechanism causes simultaneous lowering of the tray, contracting the table end sections, and closing of the front door which operation may likewise be controlled in any approved manner.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides an attractive dispensing cabinet having extensible end table sections which can be easily and quickly contracted or expanded thereby providing a completely enclosed storage cabinet when in a contracted position and an extended serving table when in an expanded position.

I claim:

l. In a dispensing cabinet including a storage chamber having an entrance and a table having a section movable into and out of a position across said entrance, the cornbination therewith of means for actuating said table section comprising a gear rack connected with said section, a gear wheel meshing with said rack, a gear pinion operatively connected with said gear wheel, a rockable gear segment meshing with said gear pinion, a reciprocable slide, linkage connecting said slide with said segment, a rotary crank, and a connecting rod operatively connecting said crank with said slide.

2. In a dispensing cabinet including a storage chamber having an entrance and Ia table having a section movable into and out of a position across said entrance, the combination therewith of means for actuating said table section comprising a gear rack connected with said section, a gear wheel meshing with said rack, a gear pinion operatively connected with said gear wheel, a rockable gear segment meshing with said gear pinion, a reciprocable slide, linkage connecting said slide with said segment, a rotary crank, and a connecting rod operatively connecting said crank with' said slide and comprising members which are slidable one relative to another, spring means connecting said members, and stop means for limiting the relative movement of said members under the action of said spring means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fiene Mar. 13, 1934 

